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Planning to have an epidural (or thinking about it) but wondering how? long Will your legs be numb and could the epidural wear out DURING your labor if you take it too early? Today I will share this fact the epidural normally lasts as long as we want it. Once we turn it off it lasts another 1-2 hours. BUT there are some good things to know about how you’ll feel both during and after labor, so keep reading!
But how do I know so much about the epidural (big question, because you definitely don’t want to get this information from someone who has only seen a few births). Hi I am Hillary — The Pregnancy Nurse®. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of experience working and delivering. I have had thousands of epidural patients. I’ve seen how it affects them both during labor and after we turn off the epidural — so I’m an expert on this!
How long does it take for the epidural of childbirth to disappear?
It usually takes 1-2 hours.
The epidural most often goes through a “pump” similar to an IV pump (you won’t see it “drip” though). When you have your baby (or when they are done with your repair) we turn it off. We also remove the epidural tubing once you are in a safe place to remove it (wonder more about the epidural infusion and placement process — learn more in this post).
Pro tip: The epidural is placed by someone under anesthesia — either an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. Not from your obstetrician or nurse.
From there it really depends on how well your body processes the drug and removes it from your system. This can vary from person to person, but is usually 1-2 hours.
If you’ve ever been numb at the dentist, it wears off in the same way that the feeling will slowly come back (and if it takes a long time for the dental to wear off for you, it might take a while for the epidural to wear off too).
Most hospitals will try to get you to pee within 1-2 hours of birth as well. If your legs aren’t steady enough, they can use some devices to help you get to the toilet without putting weight on your legs (we used one called the Sara Steady which looks like a wheelchair with wings).
It’s important to try to keep your bladder from getting full after giving birth, as it can increase the chance of bleeding (which is bad).
BTW, if you like this “behind the door” look at delivery rooms, join me here — TONS of info like this in there (and you won’t be overwhelmed).
Can the epidural “wear out” during childbirth?
The epidural is definitely not meant to wear off during labor. BUT it may stop working for one reason or another. It may be a kink in the catheter (tube), or it may have moved out of your epidural space. The epidural provider should come in and assess how it is working and decide what to do next.
I have a full post what to do if your epidural is not working.
Pro tip: Sometimes you have to be a little forceful with the anesthesia and tell them you want it fixed. Sometimes they just say it’s “pressure”, but if it’s too much pain for you, be sure to say it’s too much and you need to fix it. Just know that the fix may be to replace it.
An epidural can actually be used in a c-section if necessary (although it’s usually spinal), so if they use the right medicine for the epidural it can numb you more or give you the pain management you need.
While we’re at it – get my pain management picks here (because there’s more than just the epidural):
Although the idea of the epidural needle again may not be exciting to you, remember that they will inject the local anesthetic again when you have it inserted. If you have a lot of work left — rIts placement may be worth the pain relief an epidural can provide during labor.
As with anything communication with your team so you can get what you need is SO important — that’s why I have a bonus video here that talks about how you can talk to them.
Sometimes it is extra specific about what you feel can help the anesthesiologist understand the problem as well.
Remember, the epidural is only really meant to receive 80% of the pain. You’re not looking for total numbness. You still want to feel something so you can move on the bed and push effectively. I have a whole post about it epidural gait that speaks volumes for what you could ask for.
If you have any questions about the epidural, join me in my online prenatal course for couples. We have a whole chapter on the epidural, as well as one on natural pain management techniques that can help you cope well with labor pain. I even have a video of me going through the epidural procedure with the Raggedy Anne Doll, so it’s not scary, but you’ll know what to expect.
Or, if you’re not quite ready for the full course, you can take a free lesson from it here — lots of great information about the last quarter in this course. Plus, you’ll be able to see if we’re a good match for each other!
